FinnDave

I've received several messages of encouragement since I joined the Grateful Dudes in January, so thought I'd share a link to the audio recording of my first gig with them (not the band's first time, just mine!). There are a few mistakes here and there, but this is how it went, warts and all: https://thegratefuldudes.bandcamp.com/album/easter-fools-day-hebden-bridge-april-1-2018-aud

My next door neighbour plays the viola, sounds beautiful when she is practising. She's strictly classical, though, plays with a local orchestra.

That must be uncomfortable!

Just checked the location, it's on my route out of Leicester when we rehearse there (in the centre). If the planned rehearsal on the 5th comes through, we usually finish by four, so I might be able to pop in on my way back to the M69. It looks to be just a couple of hundred yards out of my usual way home.

I'm in neighbouring West Oxfordshire, similar situation, though I suppose we are a little closer to London, not that I go there! Friend of mine has just bought a music shop in Gloucester and knowing him, he will liven things up no end. He's local to there, and a pro drummer. I reckon that getting stuck in at jams and open mics is the best way to find people on the same wavelength, though the best band I play with just got in touch out of the blue and asked me to audition. Played my first gig with them a couple of days ago.

What time will this finish? I am probably driving up to Leicester for a rehearsal that day.

I've got a dozen years on you and am out gigging with one or more of the three bands I'm in most weekends. One I've been with for five years now, another I was asked to join in December and the other in January. I played a long gig last Sunday with a 420 mile round trip thrown in for good measure. Age is just a number, ignore it!

Simply a matter of paying and collecting them then! I drove up (and back down) the M1 on Sunday for a gig and saw signs for a place called 'Spondon', in Derbyshire, I think, anything to do with you?

I don't like having gear I don't use, either, and I'm gigging with three bands. I've already cut down a fair bit in the last few months, but still want to shed 4 basses, leaving me with 2 Jazz & 2 Precision basses. It's not about feeling guilty, for me it's a general dislike of clutter; keeping basses or amps that I don't use means keeping stuff that clutters up the house and clutters up my head. (BTW, clutter is a really odd word when you type it out three times in one sentence!)

That's a tall order on the second day of the month, there's plenty of time for worse!

If it's M T you'd better get a refill!

Yep, that's her to a Tee

Sorry, I confused you with my psychiatrist for moment there.

I thought I was mad too, but if you heard this band playing, you'd do it too! Proper GD experience, I'm as knackered now as I was the last I rode a bike back from Finland and covered nearly 800 miles in a day then spent the night on a service station forecourt when the bastaard bike broke down. But this was much more enjoyable.

Last night's gig was one I will never forget, and for all the right reasons. My first time out with The Grateful Dudes, and established Grateful Dead covers band I joined in January. Longest drive to a gig (yet) at just over 200 miles each way, best venue I've played in (Hebden Bridge Trades Club) and by far the most accomplished bunch of musicians I've ever played with. Decent sized crowd, lots of people dancing, sold quite a few band T shirts, people queueing up to shake for hands and/or hug us, very positive feelings all round. Drove home in pouring rain with periods of sleet, lot of standing water on the motorways, and the end of our road here flooded, so had to drive with great care for the last hundred yards. I was away for 18 hours, covered about 420 miles and I'd do again next week if we had a gig lined up. Next one's not until July at the moment, though. Somehow, it added up to so much more than just another gig.

Got home from last night's gig at half four (200 miles each way), just brought the basses in and left the rest in the car as it was chucking it down. Had a glass of water and got to bed at half five, head still buzzing from a great gig plus the effort of staying alert for 200 miles of rain and sleet. Still alive this morning, so something went right!

I'm jealous of anyone who can that too, our garage is so small I can't get my car in it (unless I climb out over the back seats and through the tailgate!).

Thanks, Pete. I've never been there, but heard plenty of good things about it. My first time with this band, too, but the only thing that's worrying me is the drive up! Once I'm there, it'll go too quickly, I'm sure of that.

Yep, that's the one.

I'll do my best, reporting back here Monday!

Couldn't post last night as we had a power cut when I got home so no internet. Finally got power back and hour or so ago. Played a country pub outside Abingdon last night, didn't look too promising - small room, pouring with rain, but in fact went very well and had a good turn out. Playing with Witney/Eynsham band The Mighty Cadillacs, which now includes half the Wirebirds (bass & guitar) and it was gratifying to have a few people there who came along because they wanted to see the Wirebirds guys in action as well as Cadillacs' fans. Really good gig, no hassles, no arguments, just good fun, good music and good company. And only 15 mins from home! Resting today, then a 400 mile round trip to play my first Grateful Dudes gig tomorrow.

So it does, i never read the big print!

This guy doesn't seem to claiming it is anything it isn't, though he seems to think it is a Made in China Fender! I was caught by someone advertising a Precision on Gumtree or Preloved (forget which) a few years back when I had just moved back from Finland. Had to drive to a place by the Thames barrier (a fair old schlep from West Oxfordshire) only to find the 'immaculate' Fender P was a MiM with a split neck. He told me it didn't make any difference, I explained that I wasn't exactly a new player and knew a piece of shot when I saw one. He tried to get me take to for a few quid less, but there was no way I would have had unless for free to salvage parts from. In the end I asked of he wanted to sell his Ashdown combo he had there, I could see his girlfriend nodding yes, so offered him a bit less than half what he wanted, paid and started the long drive home. Turned out to be a good amp, used for a few years, sold it for more than I paid last year.

Which part of it are you hating? Seems an honest advert, and he's only asking £20.00.

We Oxonians gotta watch each other's backs!